Purchasing a car from a great distance

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Am looking for a new DD, and have narrowed things down quite a bit. I have the benefit of being able to scour the country, but then you find something you want 2500 miles away.

Some thoughts of mine. I think paying to have the car checked out by a mechanic/dealership local to the vehicle, then having it shipped would be the most expeditious way to do this. If the car is solid, I don't feel the need to physically look at it myself, as long as a reasonable third party could do so.

Any thoughts or experiences regarding accomplishing something like this

carreradpt · carreradpt's Garage

Tobra, I bought my car from a distance. Olympia WA from near San Diego CA. I called the owner and followed up with my list of e-mail questions. It looked promising, so I called a friend who lived nearby. He was familiar with aircooled vw's and went to take a look first, looking for obvious stuff. The owner was very helpful. I then arranged with the owner to get a PPI. After that returned to my satisfaction, I then flew down south, checked the car and paperwork and paid. I had given him a check to hold the car for me thru the process. I then drove the car back to WA. I got a great car and deal.

id10t · 06-09-2011, 09:38 AM

Pelicans cover most of the country I'm sure - if you have an interest in a car somewhere, I'm sure some Pelican would either be willing to look at it him(her)self for you, or recommend someone they'd trust to examine it.

Seahawk · 06-09-2011, 09:42 AM

I have done this a few times, all with positive results.

It does depend, as always on the car, age of the car and associated paperwork.

I bought a 1994 964 in 2005 from a guy 1500 miles away, but he scanned in all the right maintenance docs, I had a good local tip on a mechanic for the PPI, and it felt right. Great car, great deal.

I bought a car from a guy in Kansas. At the time the 4Runner was fairly new, the mileage and docs were inline and the guy was/is a member of this board. I bought it without a PPI. I had business in San Diego, flew to Wichita, stumbled around with my bank card and drove back to Maryland. It remains my wife's car. After over 80,000 miles, zero issues. None.

Whatever you get, drive it home.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Capt Paul, I would like to do the drive it home thing, but it would take a few days to get from Florida to Cali, and time is money. I love driving though, and I have always wanted to watch the sun set at Key West

Anybody in Ft Myers, FL?

Seahawk · 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tobra

Capt Paul, I would like to do the drive it home thing, but it would take a few days to get from Florida to Cali, and time is money. I love driving though, and I have always wanted to watch the sun set at Key West

Age old trap: Time isn't money, time is life's currency...anyone can make money, no one can make time. Spend it wisely.

So. Fly to Myers, drive to the Keys, see the green flash and then ship it home.

You went to college, right

Edit: Have fun with whatever you do.

masraum · 06-09-2011, 10:23 AM

And, don't forget our local broker, Kaisen. He's got access to lots of cars that we don't.

id10t · 06-09-2011, 10:35 AM

Ft Meyers is way south of me but member URY914 is down that way ...

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

looks like Mr Woodenberries is in for a PM

I like your perspective on time Captain.

javadog · 06-09-2011, 12:25 PM

Here's what I do:

Ask for copies of the records.
Get a PPI done by a known-good shop. Get referrals from people in the area. A PPI from an average or bad shop is worthless.
Get an inspection of the body and paint from a good body shop. Mechanical shops can miss evidence of body and paint work.
Pick a weekend and fly out to pick it up and drive it home. You'll probably burn 3 days total.

JR

kaisen · 06-09-2011, 01:11 PM

Figure $1000-1200 from South Florida to California. If it's a car that gets good fuel economy, flying and driving would be cheaper.

But there are millions of enthusiast cars in SoCal.... why can't you find one there??

pavulon · 06-09-2011, 06:29 PM

Bought long distance from a private party via broker. Paid dearly for PPI. Paid to have the car shipped. Car arrived and was a POS through and through. Lawyers and law suit followed. Fellow Pelican helped me out tremendously and I'm not sure I will ever be able to repay him (he bought the same POS from the same owner, shipped and returned it but with much less trouble). Got my money back (less $1K) but lost a couple years of time, energy and nearly all faith in folks selling expensive cars. YMMV.

VincentVega · 06-09-2011, 06:52 PM

Quote:

But there are millions of enthusiast cars in SoCal.... why can't you find one there??

That's a great question. Lots of cars in FL are sun baked, be sure to check it out. Nothing wrong with the plan, it sounds like a fun couple days to me, but there has to be something closer, right?

BTW, what is it? I'm in the same boat and it seems like we have similar interests. I'm still stuck on a Mini and hope to drive a RSX over the weekend.

masraum · 06-09-2011, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

That's a great question. Lots of cars in FL are sun baked, be sure to check it out. Nothing wrong with the plan, it sounds like a fun couple days to me, but there has to be something closer, right?

BTW, what is it? I'm in the same boat and it seems like we have similar interests. I'm still stuck on a Mini and hope to drive a RSX over the weekend.

Lots of sun, and don't forget hurricanes...

kaisen · 06-09-2011, 08:43 PM

The biggest differences between Florida cars and SoCal cars are:

#1) BUG damage. There are simply more bugs in Florida. They hit the front of the car, they splat, their acidic insides etch into the plastic and paint with the sun. It's real damage. SoCal, not so much

#2) Humidity = smell. In some parts of FL you cannot escape the humidity. So things never really dry out. Interiors can smell funny. Forever. And A/C systems and ductwork. SoCal typically does not have the same issues with swamp rot.

I've purchased hundreds, if not thousands, of cars from Florida.

LakeCleElum · 06-09-2011, 08:44 PM

Have bought 3 motorcycles long distances over the years. 2 turned out good, one very disappointing......Bought a collectible m/c off Ebay in Fla and had shipped to Seattle......Guess an inspection would have helped, but when I got it, it was obivious it was assembled from parts and the engine smokes a lot........

For me in the future, a plane ticket is cheap.......Buy a round trip ticket, fly in and inspect......If big problems, fly out the next day......Just my policy........

Bill Douglas · 06-10-2011, 01:00 AM

I bought my 911 from 11,600 miles away, sight unseen. But I did get Ruf to do a detailed PPI and photos for me.

And my latest Corolla was bought on an online auction from some place that took a week to drive home from

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

The gentleman who bought Helga, my '74 911 Targa is in Germany and had the car shipped there. Worked out well for both of us...

Hugh R · 06-11-2011, 12:55 PM

Toby:

Remember the CA will charge you sales tax on it when you go to register it.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Mr R that played a role in choice of cars, gubmint do take a bite, taxes and registration. Looks like it will be a distance, but under a thousand miles, whatever happens, I will take plenty of pics on the way home, have a few big memory cards.